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It is widely known that a woman makes 78 cents to a man’s dollar, but what many do not know is that this statistic only represents white women. Latinas earn 55 cents to a white, non-Hispanic man’s dollar. Black women and Native American women earn around 60 cents to a white, non-Hispanic man’s dollar. Historically speaking, feminism has been mainly concerned with the struggles of the white women. Essentially, this type of feminism ― coined the term “white feminism”― is not real feminism. White feminism completely overlooks the struggles that women of color, LGTBQ+ women, and women of other minority groups face. Those of us who fail to recognize that intersectionality should be practiced in feminism are creating divisions within the movement. In order to ensure that the voices of women of all races, religions, identities, classes, and orientations are heard, the concept of intersectionality should be incorporated in feminism. Only when this is done can true gender equality be achieved.
The idea of intersectionality in feminism was introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who describes it as “a prism for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other.” She emphasizes that “all inequality is not created equal.” The lens that intersectionality offers allows the feminism movement to consider the different overlapping identities and experiences of women of minority groups, understand the problems they face, and address these issues better. Furthermore, intersectionality in feminism acknowledges that many people face oppression from many sources, such as their race, identity, sexuality, religion, etc. These identity markers are not independent of each other, thus creating a “complex convergence of oppression” (Chandler, 1). For instance, a Latina lesbian woman faces oppression for her sexuality, race, and gender. Through integrating intersectionality into the feminism movement, an inclusive environment can be created, and issues for all women can be addressed.
In order to grasp a better understanding of intersectionality in feminism, let’s take a look at it in context. According to statistics, around 25% to 50% of women face gender-based violence in their lifetime; however, this statistic fails to take into account the various oppressions that constitute this type of violence (Uwujaren, 1). According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey conducted by the CDC, 40% of black women, American Indian, or Alaskan Native women, and 50% of multi-racial non-Hispanic women have faced some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime, be it physical violence, rape, or being stalked by a partner. To put this into perspective, this is 30 to 50% higher than what white non-hispanic, hispanic, and asian women experience. Moreover, 44% of lesbian women and 61% of bisexual women are raped, physically harmed, and/or stalked by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Also, of those who were killed in LGBTQ-based hate incidents, 78% were people of color. In summary, all women face oppression, but other women face more oppression from multiple different sources, meaning that these women are at a higher risk.
Can white people be intersectional feminists? Yes, white people can and should be intersectional feminists. A vital part of being an intersectional feminist as a white person is to acknowledge your privilege, and consider how your whiteness has shaped your life. Just as important is listening to the experiences of women of minority groups to effectively understand the issues they face that come with their race, religion, sexuality, orientation, or identity.
Approaching Intersectionality in Feminism and Working Towards it
Understand that people’s experiences can be different. Many might generalize the viewpoints of a certain group, saying that “all women” feel some way (Chandler, 1). In other words, people often fail to recognize that people can be of various minority groups with their own unique thoughts, experiences, and perspectives. It’s important to remind ourselves that the experiences of all women, especially of overlapping minority groups, are valid. Additionally, we should seek to understand the different perspectives of people. This involves having an open-mind, actively listening, and asking questions. The structures and systems of discrimination and oppression are linked. It is crucial to understand that people can be of various identities, thus leading to unique experiences and perspectives.
To practice intersectionality in feminism, educating yourself and others around you is the best thing you can do. Here is a list of resources you should check out:
A Ted Talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw on the urgency of intersectionality: https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality#t-205078
A video defining intersectionality by Kimberlé Crenshaw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc
Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics (Article): https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1052&context=uclf
Practicing Intersectionality in Sociological Research (Article): https://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~mferree/documents/choo_ferree_intersectionality_final0909.pdf
A list of podcasts you should listen to: https://mashable.com/2016/09/12/intersectional-feminist-podcasts/#Z6gY.qsT58qi
Works Cited
Chandler, Leigh. “What Is Intersectionality, and What Does It Have to Do with Me?” YW Boston, 2 July 2020, www.ywboston.org/2017/03/what-is-intersectionality-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-me/.
Uwujaren, Jarune. “Why Our Feminism Must Be Intersectional (And 3 Ways to Practice It).” Everyday Feminism, 13 Aug. 2020, everydayfeminism.com/2015/01/why-our-feminism-must-be-intersectional/.